Flashbacks:
The RNGC Caddyshackpocalypse
Bollards!
But thanks to the recent revival of plans to build a rec center at Baron Cameron Park, things have heated up for this fall's preference poll. A total of six candidates -- two incumbents and four newcomers -- are running for three seats, and the rec center, which is currently on hold, has become a key issue.
And now, we're seeing some actual campaigning. Confidential Restonian Operative "R2D2" passed along an unsigned three-page letter left at his doorstep at an undisclosed Reston location. First, you can tell that this isn't a real election because the letter is, in fact, three pages long, with no pictures and lots of words and paragraphs and reasonably complex lines of thinking -- all total no-nos for professional campaign literature. The closest to a slogan they came up with is 3-4-5-4-U (3 for Special Tax District #5 for You). It's not quite "Hope and Change," but hey, it's Reston.
The three candidates on this acronym-laden slate are John Mendonca, Sridhar Ganesan, and Tammi Petrine. The unsigned letter argues that the RCC funding model "is the wrong funding model" for any new project, given that renovations to other county facilities are being funded out of general tax dollars, that Baron Cameron is the wrong location, and "need to do it now" is not a smart approach, particularly given the number of developers that could provide sweet sweet cash money in the form of proffers for new facilities. They write:
To date, no viable financial model for a new recreation center has been presented to the people of Reston that does not involve raising fees and/or taxes considerably, turning the center into a regional facility to support operating costs, or renting the center out to the extent that it is not available for our use. If action is not taken now to withdraw this proposal, we will have the full burden of a new recreation center falling on our shoulders now and forever.The full text of the letter is below, assuming you can squint and read really small text.
Guess they missed the memo on the benefits of "short & sweet" marketing materials.
ReplyDeleteIt is disheartening to have a group who has no apparent interest in the mission of the RCC running for its Board of Governors.
ReplyDeleteTotally disagree. Does the term "fiscal responsibility" strike you as an alien concept? Where exactly do you see anything in these candidates' message that suggests they want to drive a spike through the heart of the RCC, as opposed to bringing some self-restraint and financial realism to its operation?
DeleteI voted today for this slate and hope they win.
Well my read is that they have ZERO interest in the mission. Where did you read that they're interested in the mission?
Delete"Where did you read that they're interested in the mission?"
DeleteIn the candidates's statements, which are no more or no less detailed than those of the other three candidates.
Where are the available "five acres of vacant County parkland" mentioned near the bottom of page 2 in the letter? I will vote for this slate and hope they win -- BUT first I'd like to know if the five acres are In My Back Yard (IMBY)?
ReplyDeleteThe 5 acres of undeveloped parkland is across Fountain Dr. from the Spectrum Center and behind the ACCESS emergency care center.
DeleteThey want it to be in the center of RTC - near the Library & Shelter.
ReplyDeleteThere are 5 acres of vacant park land in North Town Center. West side of Fountain Drive. Just south of what used to be called Access (the Inova ER medical facility) I wouldn't call it vacant although the county likes to call it that. That designation reduces it's value so we won't be so sad when they sell it to a developer for high-end condos (which is what the developer wants it for). Don't feel bad if you never noticed it was there, I didn't either until I got out of the car and walked it. Nice piece of land with great possibilities as described in several Reston 2020 task force papers. Here's the first one: http://www.scribd.com/doc/32727253/Vision-for-Cascades-Park-in-North-Town-Center-Dick-Rogers-Residential-Urban-Design-Livability-Work-Group-RCA-Reston-2020-Committee
ReplyDelete"...preserve the white oak trees?" A developer's notion of preservation is to bulldoze the suckers and replace them with a cinder block wall decorated with a tasteful frieze of an oak forest rendered by a respected local artist.
ReplyDeleteAny one of these three candidates has more fiscal sense than the totality of the current RCC Board of Governors. I would be a shame if they weren't ALL elected to serve our community and improve RCC governance.
ReplyDeleteWell then I hope you vote for them!
DeleteThese 3 will be a disaster for the RCC, I hope they lose to people who really want to see the RCC serve the community.
DeleteThe only thing these three candidates "will be a disaster for" is the RCC's unbridled ambition, edifice complex, and Taj Mahalization dreams.
ReplyDelete